Mumbai: Doctors at Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar, were in the middle of a monsoon preparedness meeting when initial reports of a billboard collapse in Pant Nagar began trickling in. Moments later, a man with mild injuries stumbled in. He managed to convey fragments of the incident to the hospital staff, uttering words such as “hoarding,” “big accident,” and “many, many injured.” Shortly, a call from disaster relief confirmed their fears, asking the hospital to prepare for mass casualties.
The civic-run hospital with 596 sanctioned beds had only 428 operational with several wards under renovation. As the hospital seniors started discussing the possible influx of casualties, videos emerged, showing the enormous billboard crashing on to a petrol pump built over an acre.
“Instantly, we recognised the gravity of the situation. We knew we would require a massive ward as we were the closest hospital,” said Dr Bharati Rajulwala, chief medical officer of Rajawadi.
Toying with few options, the hospital zeroed in on ward 5 on the ground floor, which had been closed just days before for ceiling renovations. Between 4:45pm and 5pm, injured patients began arriving. A medical officer was tasked with quickly setting up ward 5, with the help of ward boys, cleaners and nurses.
Dr Rajulwala said half a dozen staff cleared out debris while another group moved in cots and covered them with bedsheets. Since the evening shift was ending, all staff, including doctors and nurses, were asked to stay back. Additional hospital staff were told to report to the hospital. “Within 45 minutes, the ward was prepared, complete with 40 beds; they were 100% occupied by 8pm,” the CMO said. Rajawadi managed an influx of more than 80 patients in four hours following the incident, with injured arriving till midnight.
Unlike previous mass disasters where many had to be transferred from peripheral hospitals such as Rajawadi to specialised ones like KEM and Sion, such transfers were fewer this time. Till Wednesday, seven patients were moved to KEM for advanced orthopaedic and spine treatment.
Dr Sudhakar Shinde, additional municipal commissioner, said the addition of DNB seats had strengthened hospitals such as Rajawadi. Dr Rajulwala said they were able to utilise services of several of the 32 DNB teachers and an equal number of students, along with resident doctors who work as part of the District Residency Programme.
Of the 75 injured, 41 continue to be under treatment.
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